The Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast is hosted by Paul Swindell, founder of Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK and 11-year cardiac arrest survivor. Each episode is an honest, informal conversation with someone whose life has been touched by cardiac arrest — survivors, co-survivors, lifesavers, cardiologists, psychologists, and other specialists.
With over 50 episodes recorded since 2019, it is one of the few podcasts in the world dedicated entirely to life after cardiac arrest — the recovery, the psychology, the practical questions, and the human stories that never make it into a discharge leaflet.
Who is it for?
- Survivors — if you’re trying to make sense of what happened and what comes next
- Co-survivors — partners, family members, and friends trying to understand what their loved one is going through
- Lifesavers — people who performed CPR or used a defibrillator and are processing the experience
- Health professionals — clinicians and researchers with an interest in post-cardiac arrest care
What topics does it cover?
Episodes span the full breadth of life after cardiac arrest, including:
- ICDs — what they are, living with one, shocks, replacement surgery, airport security, myths and misconceptions
- Mental health — PTSD, anxiety, depression, cardiophobia, intrusive thoughts, mindfulness
- Cognitive recovery — brain fog, memory problems, fatigue, and occupational therapy
- Cardiology — beta blockers, stents, ablation, arrhythmias, and medications explained in plain English
- Practical issues — driving, returning to work, travel, relationships, and sex after cardiac arrest
- Co-survivor perspectives — what partners and lifesavers go through
- Survivor stories — personal journeys from people across the SCA UK community
Notable guests
Guests have included leading names in resuscitation medicine, cardiology, and cardiac arrest care:
- Professor Jerry Nolan — former Chair of the European Resuscitation Council
- Dr Tom Keeble — consultant cardiologist and cardiac arrest survivorship specialist
- Dr Sanjay Gupta — consultant cardiologist and widely trusted voice in patient education
- Professor Tobias Cronberg — neurologist and post-cardiac arrest brain injury specialist, Lund University
- Professor Barbara Wilson OBE — world-renowned neuropsychologist and founder of the Oliver Zangwill Centre
- Professor Mark Wilson — neurologist, pre-hospital care specialist and co-founder of GoodSAM
- Donna Malley — occupational therapy specialist in fatigue after brain injury
- Dr Marco Mion — clinical psychologist specialising in cardiac arrest recovery
Start here
Not sure where to begin? Here are our picks depending on where you are in your journey:
- Just home from hospital? Start with ICD Owners 101 and Good Advice Post-Cardiac Arrest
- Struggling with fatigue or brain fog? Listen to Managing Fatigue with Donna Malley and Thanks for the Memory with Professor Barbara Wilson
- Dealing with anxiety or PTSD? Try Psychological Aspects of Cardiac Arrest with Dr Marco Mion and Mental Health Care Post-Cardiac Arrest with Liz Sharpe
- Partner or co-survivor? Begin with The 8 Seconds of Dying with Jamie Poole and The Forgotten Patient with Dr Katie Dainty
- Health professional? Start with The Current State of Resuscitation with Professor Jerry Nolan
Where to listen
The Life After Cardiac Arrest podcast is available on all major platforms — search “Life After Cardiac Arrest” or use the links below:
If you enjoy the podcast, a review on Apple Podcasts goes a long way — it helps more survivors and families find it.
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